Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. But, the good news is that if it’s caught early, there’s plenty of time to treat and prevent gum disease before it can lead to significant harm in your mouth.
Even better, you can avoid gum infection altogether by adopting some dental hygiene habits. If you want to learn more, here are six practices for preventing gum disease.
1. Brush Your Teeth
Here’s an easy one – brush your teeth! Brushing your teeth after meals help dislodge food debris and plaque lingering between your teeth and gums. Don’t forget to brush your tongue, as bacteria love to thrive there.
2. Floss
Flossing at least once a day helps to budge food particles and plaque between the teeth and along the gum line. After all, there are areas that your toothbrush can’t quite reach.
3. Use Mouthwash
It also helps to swish your mouth with mouthwash. This helps to remove plaque and any residual food particles that brushing and flossing missed.
4. Visit the Dentist
Be sure to receive regular dental cleanings and check-ups. Even the most thorough personal hygiene habits can miss plaque, which can potentially harden into a calcified form that’s impossible to budge with brushing and flossing. This is called calculus, otherwise known as tartar.
Visit the dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings to remove any unwanted plaque and tartar. This will significantly reduce your risk for dental disease.
5. Make Some Lifestyle Changes
Smoking more than doubles your risks of gum disease. As well as this, if you consume a lot of sugar, you’re also more susceptible to infection. That’s because sugar feeds the disease-causing bacteria.
Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and consuming a dental-friendly diet could improve your teeth and gum health to help you avoid gum disease.
6. Keep an Eye Out for Infection
Always watch for signs of infection. Although you try your best to reduce your gum disease chances, it’s impossible to bring that risk to zero. So, always keep an eye out for the signs of gum disease. Painful, swollen, red, or bleeding gums are a clear sign of gum disease.
If you notice any of the signs or symptoms of gum disease, make a dental appointment as soon as possible. The sooner you can begin treatment, the better.
Tips for Preventing Gum Disease
Preventing gum disease is easy if you follow these six tips.
One of the most essential on the list is visiting your dentist regularly to have your teeth expertly cleaned. While consistent brushing and flossing will keep plaque at bay, only your dentist has the suitable tools to combat tarter that may build up on your teeth.
Plus, regular check-ups can help your dentist assess your oral health and identify and prevent issues before they require more complex treatment.
If you need a check-up in the Tampa area, book an appointment with us today.
